Tower and other similar structure



Sept. 2 1924.

1,506,984 I. W. MARSHALL TOWER AND OTHER SIMILAR STRUCTURE' Filed April 7'. 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 2 1924.

Filed April 7. 1921 4 Sheetg-Shet 2 INVENTOR.

Sept. 2 1924.

--I. W. MARSHALL TOWER AND; OTHER SIMILAR STRUCTURE Filed April 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOB. V 3mm.x\mui .Qmsm k mm Patented Sept. 2, 1924.

UNITED STATES v 1,506,984 PATENT OFFICE.

IRA W. MARSHALL, OE PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO- BLAW-KNOX COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

TOWER AND OTHER SIMILAR STRUCTURE.

Application filed April 7,

forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of a structure embodying my invention' Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same; 'Figures 3., 4, and 5 are sections, taken,

respectively, on the lines III-III, IVIV and V-V of Figure 1;

Figure 6-is a perspective view on a larger scalerof a portion of the structure shown in Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a perspective view showing a modified form of the structure;

, Figure 8 is a perspective view showing another modified construction;

Fi re 9 is a sectional plan View showing still another modification;

Figure 10 is a side elevation of a further modification Figure 11 is a side elevation of the elements on one side only of another form, within the limits shown by the dotted lines;

Figure 12 is a section on the line XII-XII of Figure 10; and

Figure 13 is a view similar toFigure 11 of another form and in which the elements are diagrammatically shown.

My invention has relation to towers, such as areused' for carrying transmission lines, signal towers and wireless work, and also to oles, derricks, ma'sts, booms and the like; an the term towers as used herein and in the appended claims, isto be understood as applying to all structures of this general character.

The invention relates more particularly to towers of that class which are built up of metal structural elements. The invention is designed to provide a structure of this character, in which, for a given strength, the weight of metal employed is materially reduced; which can .be con-- structed with less shop work, no back cutting of angles or other similar work being required, the parts being largely of similar character; and which Wlll also effect a saving in detail drawings. The invention also- 1921. Serial No. 459,329.

comprises a structure having fewer pieces to handle in its construction and erection.

The main feature in which my. invention differs from other structures'of this general class with which I am familiar is that it eliminates the employment of the continuous vertical corner osts ordinarily employed, the entire loa being carried by oblique members arranged in a novel manner and directly transmitting the load from one to another. These members constitute the longitudinal supporting elements of the structure. By this, I do not mean that there may not incidentally be other longitudinal members, but so far as the load-carrying members of the structure are concerned, these are constituted only by the oblique members referred to.

Referring first to that form of my in-' vention which is shown in Figures 1 to 6, inclusive, the structure here shown is one which is suitable for use as atower for supporting power transmission lines. It is a four-sided gular in cross section and built up of a plurality of separate stages or sections. Each of these stages or sections consists of four pairs of oblique members 2, there being one pair at each of the four sides of the structure, the members of each pair extending from the lower corners to the upper corners of the section and crossing each other at the middle. They are preferably secured at the points of crossing by bolts or rivets 3. At each end of each section or stage, transverse stiffening members 6 are secured to clips 4. The ends of the oblique members 2 are connected to the clips 4: and are held firmly in the proper position relative to each other. The clips 4 also provide means for connecting the 0blique members of adjacent stages or sections so that only one transverse stifi'ening frame is provided between adjoining sections. The clips 4 are made with flanges of suflicient-width to allow easy connection of the ends of the .members2 thereto with- .out special or diagonal cutting of the said members.

The lower ends. of the members of the structure, rectanlowest section or stage are bolted to'suitf ableposts 7, which are setin concrete, or

other suitable foundations 8. p

In the form shown in these figures, all

of the structural elements of the tower consist of pieces of angles cut to the proper length. For the oblique members 2, the angles are placed back to back.

The numeral 9 designates cross arms for carrying the power lines, as many of these arms being employed as may be necessary in any particular case. They are shown as consisting of pieces of angles bent around the sides of the tower and bolted to the adjacent connectors 4., their ends being brought together and bolted to each other at 10, these bolts also extending through the braces 11. In the case of lower cross arms, the upper ends of braces 11 are connected to the connectors 4, next above that particular cross arm. In the case of the top cross arm, the braces 11 are brought together at the top of the tower and are connected to the four oblique members 12, which constitute the summit of the tower.

It will be noted that the eight obliquev members of each stage or section of the tower are all similar and may be used interchangeably one with another. In fact, these members of all the stages differ from each other only in cross section and length; this section and length being changed from stage to stage, or not, as may be desirable in any particular case. The cross arms, their braces and'also the horizontal ties 6 are also formed from pieces of angles which can be readily cut to length.

It will be readily seen that this greatl facilitates the work in the drawing room, there being comparatively few detail drawings required of the structural elements. It also facilitates the work of handling and erection, as well as the shop work. The elimination of the vertical corner angles or elements of the structure greatly reduces the total weight of the metal required in a structure to resist the stresses caused by weight, wind pressure, and other forces applied to the wires attached to the cross arms.

Horizontal cross braces, such as shown at 13, may beemployed, wherever desired, at the junction of adjacent sections or stages.

In the modification shown in Figure 7 the construction is similar to that first described, except that instead of cutting the angles forming the longitudinal elements at every stage of the structure, these angles are bent intermediate their lengths, so that they extend a distance equal to two stages or sections. The manner in which this is accomplished will be readily understood from Figure 7. Each of the longitudinal angles has two straight portions 14 and 15 and extends upwardly from one corner'of the structure to the opposite corner thereof at a point intermediate the ends of the particular section, and is then bent reversely across, to the original corner at the top of the stage or. section. The ad'acent members are secured together at t eir intermediate portions, as indicated at 16, and any suitable sided, is of triangular form in cross section.

The arrangement of the longitudinal elements 21 is otherwise the same as in the form first described.

In Figure 10, I have shown another method of anchoring the structure. In this form, the lower section of the structure, together with the lower portion of the next higher section is set into the earth, or it may be in concrete. At the joint between the lower section and the next higher. section, the joint plates 21 are connected by the horizont-ally extending channel members 22, these being designed to have a broad bearing against the earth or concrete in which this portion of the structure is embedded. In this figure, I have also illustrated the use of horizontal connecting members 23 at an intermediate point of a tower section. These connecting members serve to effectively tie together the members of, the structure and strengthen it, andmay be employed in any of the forms of my invention which are shown and wherever desired.

The form of my invention shown in Figure 11 is similar to that shown in Figure 10, except that the lower section 24- of the structure which is buried in the earth or in the concrete is widened materially towards its base, thereby increasing the effectiveness of the anchor.

Figure 13 represents diagrammaticallya:

further modification which may be used for other structures. In this form of structure, there are a plurality of the longitudinal angle members 25 at each face of the structure, extending substantially parallel with each other, in a manner which will be readily understood by reference to the drawings, the general arrangement of each intersecting pair of the members 25 being similar to the arrangement shown in the other figures.

It will be readily understood that the structure embodying my invention may be of various polygonal forms in cross section. y invention contemplates the use of the construction described, either for the full height of the tower, or a'tower may be built of the usual construction to a-certain height,

and my improved construction maybe used for the remaining portion of the tower. It will also be understood that the cross section of the structure may be such that the horizontal dimension of the tower may be unequal instead of equal, as shown.

I claim:

1. A tower having all of the longitudinally extending members of certain of its sides arranged in pairs, the two members of each pair extending obliquely to and crossing each other intermediate their ends, the corresponding ends of the members of each pair being connected by a transversely extending tension member, substantially as described.

2. A tower having all of its longitudinally extending members arranged in pairs, the two members of each pair extending oblique ly to and crossing each other intermediate their ends, the corresponding ends of the members. of each pair being connected by a transversely extendin tension member, substantially as described.

3. A tower comprising a plurality of horizontal sections arranged one above the other, each section consisting of a plurality of members joined end to end to form a polygonal frame, each section being joined to the next section above by longitudinally extending members all of which are arranged in pairs, the two members of each pair extending obliquely to and crossing each other intermediate their ends and being held in fixed relationship to each other by said frames, substantially as desired.

4. A tower having all of its longitudinally extending members arranged in pairs, the two members of each pair extending obliquely to and crossing each other intermediate their ends, and each of said members having substantially equal resistance to bending in two planes at ri ht angles to each other and containing sai member, the corresponding ends of the membersof each pair being connected by a, transversely extending tension member, substantially as described.

5. A tower comprising a plurality of superimposed sections, each section being composed of a plurality of oblique-members arranged in pairs, the members of each pair crossing each other intermediate their ends, connectors uniting the members of one section to the corresponding members of the adjacent section, and horizontal members uniting the connectors and vmaintaining them a fixed distance apart, substantially as described.

6. A tower comprising a plurality of horizontal frames each composed of polygonally disposed peripheral members and arranged one above the other and maintained a fixed distance apart by diagonal members only, the usual corner posts at the intersections of the sides of the tower being omitted, substantially as described.

7. A tower comprising a plurality of horizontal polygonal frames arran ed one above the other and maintained a xed distance apart by diagonal members onl said diagonal members being arrange in pairs, the two members of each pair extending obliquely to and across each other intermediate their ends, and at least one additional horizontal frame connected to certain of the pairs of diagonal members at their points of crossing, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

ERA W. MARSHALL. 

